Target hit-indicating game



June 22, 1965 J. T. Ross TARGET HIT-INDICATING GAME Filed April 23, 1962 m 5 o .9 T a y W W I a J wvv\\\\\\ M FIG. 7

United States Patent 3,190,654 TARGET HIT-INDHCATING GAME John T. Ross, 2353 Exmoor Ave., Highland Park, Ill. Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,390 3 flaims. (Cl. 273-1021) This invention relates to an apparatus and method which provide a unique game. The apparatus consists of a novel projectile, a novel impelling means for the projectile and a novel target cooperating therewith. The target, impelling means and projectile are designed for amusement and marksmanship purposes or the like, and they are characterized by safety of use and a highly effective and satisfactory means for indicating results.

There are many games and similar devices presently in use which provide means for testing the ability to accurately direct a projectile toward a target. In many instances, as in the case of darts, arrows, bullets, etc., there is a danger of injury if the projectile goes astray. An additional drawback of many existing units concerns the inconvenience associated with accurately determining the location of hits on the target. In the case of bullets, new targets must be regularly substituted in order to distinguish between different shots. In the case of darts and arrows, once they are removed from the target, the marks made thereby cannot be distinguished from other marks.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a combination of a projectile, impelling means and target which overcomes the above disadvantages and which provides enjoyment as well as a highly satisfactory test of skill.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a projectile, impelling means and target combination which is constructed for use in a safe manner whereby the danger of injury is largely eliminated and which provides means for identifying the location of hits made on the target.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved projectile which can be manufactured to embody the desirable features which characterize arrows, darts, bullets and similar projectiles and which is utilized in combination with a unique impeller and target which permit accurate directing of the projectile as well as a clear indication of the results.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a projectile of the type employed in the combination of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front end view of the projectile taken about the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the projectile;

FIGURE 4 is a rear end view of the projectile taken about the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a blowgun adapted to be employed in combination with the projectile;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partly cut away, of the stem portion of the blowgun; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a target prepared for use in accordance with this invention.

The projectile and target which are employed in the combination of this invention are provided with means which cooperate to enable a clear indication of hits on the target. The projectile generally comprises a head portion composed of a porous material adapted to retain a visible marking material within its pores. The target is provided with a surface adapted to receive the marking material upon impact by the porous head of the projectile. At each impact the marking material within the porous 3,196,654 Patented June 22, 165

head is adapted to be released thereby providing a visible indication on the surface of the target of the location of impact.

In a preferred form of this invention, a blowgun is employed as the impelling means for the projectile. The blowgun is designed to provide comfort for the user as well as to permit accurate directing of the projectile toward the target.

The invention also preferably employs a target and projectile combination which is adapted to form dye marks on the target at the point of impact. To accomplish this, one of the members of the combination is adapted to retain moisture, preferably Water, which will react with a chemical dye or similar material retained by the other member of the combination. Specifically, the invention contemplates the use of a target having a surface comprising a moisture reactive dye material. With a target of this type, the porous projectile is adapted to retain moisture which will be released upon impact with the target. The moisture will cause a reaction on the target surface releasing the dye thereby providing a visual indication of a hit.

In the use of the combination, the projectile is first dipped in water or other liquid and then placed in the blowgun to be described. When the user shoots the projectile out of the gun toward the target, the moisture will be carried along to provide the above described reaction and to provide the desired visual indication.

The accompanying drawing will provide an illustration of one form of the inventive combination. FIGURES 1 through 4 illustrate a projectile It) comprised of a central portion 12, an absorbent tip 14 and a finned tail 16. The use of the particular tail design provides the advantages inherent in well known dart and arrow projectiles.

The body portion and tail of the projectile are preferably formed in a one piece molding operation, and plastic is a suitable material therefor. A recess 18 is formed in the body portion I2 to provide for insertion of an extension 20 of the tip 14. The tip may be removably held in the body portion as by a pressure fit to permit replacement. To provide the absorbent character of the tip, any fibrous or multicellular material, either natural or synthetic, may be employed. Felt, cork, rubber, sponge, etc., are all contemplated.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate a blowgun 22 which is particularly suitable for directing the projectile 10 in a desired fashion. The gun includes a barrel 24 and a mouthpiece 26, the latter being fitted into an annular recess 28 formed in the end of the barrel. A dish-shaped annular flange 3% is formed on the mouthpiece with the concave side of the flange facing the user. With this arrangement, the lips of the user will fit into the dish-shaped section to provide for comfortable as well as highly effective use of the gun. The outer edge 32 of the mouthpiece is rounded to avoid presentation of any sharp surfaces.

A target 34, specially prepared for use in combination with the blowgun and projectile, is shown in FIGURE 7. The target comprises a backing 36 and a surface portion 38 having a design 40 for indicating the accuracy of a shot. The surface 33, in a preferred form of this invention, includes a chemical or other material, such as a dye, which is adapted to provide a visible mark when contacted by the tip of the projectile. In order to provide the visible mark, the chemicals or other materials included in the target surface are preferably moisture sensitive whereby the moisture-soaked tip will release moisture and cause a reaction upon impact with the surface. Since many water sensitive dyes are available, water is preferred for use in combination with this invention.

Various well known water soluble dyes or other materials can be employed which are activated when contacted by water to produce a visible mark. To provide the reactive surface, a dispersion of a dye may be applied as a coating over a backing. On the other hand, a sheet of paper adapted to spot when contacted by moisture can be tacked onto a backing in a removable fashion. As a still further alternative, a relatively rigid sheet may be impregnated with a moisture reactive chemical dye and employed as a complete target unit. Obviously, various other means for providing a target with the desired reactive surface can be visualized.

The use of a dye material in the tip of the projectile is also contemplated. With this arrangement, the surface of the target can be moistened to provide for a reaction when the projectile hits the target. The use of this alternative permits application of different colored dyes to different projectiles thereby providing a means for distinguishing between shots.

It will be appreciated that the invention described is capable of many modifications and is not limited to any particular types of chemicals or dyes or to any particular structural combinations other than those which are included within the novel features of this invention as described in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In the combination of a projectile, a blowgun adapted to impel said projectile, and a target, said projectile comprising a head portion and said target including a surface portion, said head portion being porous and retaining water within its pores, said water being releasable onto said target when said blowgun is operated to cause said projectile to strike said target, said surface portion of said target including a water reactive material comprising a water soluble dye which forms a visible spot when said water is so-released whereby a visible indication of the location of impact is provided.

2. In a game, the combination of a blowgun comprising a mouthpiece having an annular dish-shaped flange spaced from the end thereof, a barrel connected to said mouthpiece, the concave side of said flange facing away from the discharge end of said barrel, a projectile adapted to fit into said barrel adjacent the connection with said flange, said projectile comprising a moisture absorbent tip and a finned tail, water retained by said projectile in said tip, a target including a water reactive surface containing a water soluble dye, said water being adapted to be released when said projectile is impelled out of said blowgun and strikes said target surface, said surface being adapted to form a visible spot in response to reaction of said dye with said water to thereby provide a visible indication of the location of impact.

3. In a game, the combination of a blowgun comprising a mouthpiece having an annular dish-shaped flange spaced from the end thereof, a barrel connected to said mouthpiece, the concave side of said flange facing away from said barrel, a projectile having a head portion and being adapted to fit into said barrel at a point adjacent the connection of said flange, a target having a surface portion, one of said head and surface portions releasably retaining water, the other of said head and surface portions containing a water soluble dye reactive with said water to form a visible mark, said water being adapted to be released when said projectile is impelled from said gun and strikes said surface whereby a visible indication of the location of impact of said projectile is provided.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,304 Swan Mar. 18, 1884 1,545,476 Austerman July 14, 1925 1,774,765 Schoen Sept. 2, 1930 2,156,018 Humphner Apr. 25, 1939 2,679,838 Thompson June 1, 1954 2,683,037 Ruczynski et al. July 6, 1954 2,756,737 Resch July 31, 1956 3,031,966 Metzger May 1, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,228,995 France Mar. 21, 1960 LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

JOHN M. HORAN, RICHARD C. PINKHAM,

Examiners. 

1. IN THE COMBINATION OF A PROJECTILE, A BLOWGUN ADAPTED TO IMPEL SAID PROJECTILE, AND A TARGET, SAID PROJECTILE COMPRISING A HEAD PORTION AND SAID TARGET INCLUDING A SURFACE PORTION, SAID HEAD PORTION BEING POROUS AND RETAINING WATER WITHIN ITS PORES, SAID WATER BEING RELEASABLE ONTO SAID TARGET WHEN SAID BLOWGUN IS OPERATED TO CAUSE SAID PROJECTILE TO STRIKE SAID TARGET, SAID SURFACE PORTION OF SAID TARGET INCLUDING A WATER REACTIVE MATERIAL COMPRISING A WATER SOLUBLE DYE WHICH FORMS A VISIBLE SPOT WHEN SAID WATER IS SO-RELEASED WHEREBY A VISIBLE INDICATION OF THE LOCATION OF IMPACT IS PROVIDED. 